Glue applicator

ABSTRACT

A glue applicator for storing and applying liquid glue. The applicator includes an elongated generally cylindrical body member, a rigid elongated inner core member positioned within the body member, a fibrous tip member, a liquid glue material contained within the body member, and a cap member for sealing the distal end of the body member. The body member includes a squeezable portion of generally elliptical transverse cross-section located adjacent a distal end portion thereof. The inner core member includes portions thereof that are in contact with an inner surface of the body member along the length thereof. The fibrous tip is received in an elongated cavity formed in a distal end portion of the inner core member. A plurality of openings formed through the inner core member permit the passage of liquid glue from the body member therethrough into the cavity so as to contact the fibrous tip member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a glue or solvent bonder applicatorfor storing and applying a liquid glue or solvent bonder material. Morespecifically, the invention is directed to a glue applicator device thatis particularly useful during the assembly of polystyrene plastic modelkits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous prior art devices for storing and applying glue orsolvent bonder materials. Such devices typically include a flexible bodyor tube portion that is squeezed to force a liquid glue or bondermaterial contained therein through a nozzle having a relatively smallopening. Such devices may include an internal valve to control the flowof materials that may be actuated by the application of a force thereto.There are also similar devices that have a substantially rigid body thatrely on gravity to direct the liquid material through a distal opening.Such devices have been provided with brushes and fibrous tips tofacilitate application of the liquid glue or bonder material.

There is a need for an improved glue applicator device for storing andapplying a liquid glue or bonder material that provides constant glue orbonder availability at the delivery tip without the use of an internalvalve. It is desirable that such a device be able to instantly makeavailable extra glue or bonder material at the point of application. Itis further desirable that the device have a delivery tip that remainsconstantly moist with glue or bonder material so that it is ready foruse without having to be primed. It is also desirable that the device beergonomically designed in order to facilitate the delivery of plasticmodel glue or bonder material to the model builder in a manner thatensures a clean and well-assembled model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an ergonomically designed glue applicatorfor storing and applying a liquid glue or bonder solvent material. Theglue applicator includes an elongated generally cylindrical body member,a rigid elongated inner core member positioned within the body member, afibrous tip member, a liquid glue or bonder material contained withinthe body member, and a means for sealing the distal end of the bodymember.

The elongated body member has a closed proximal end portion and an opendistal end portion. A squeezable portion, located adjacent the distalend portion, is of increased cross-sectional dimension and may bedeflected inwardly by a force applied by a finger. The squeezableportion is generally elliptical in transverse cross-section. A firstsection of the squeezable portion is concave in longitudinalcross-section and may be provided with a plurality of spaced apartprojections extending outwardly therefrom. A second section of thesqueezable portion is concave in longitudinal cross-section and may beprovided with a plurality of spaced apart cavities formed therein.

The inner core member is positioned within the body member and extendsalong substantially the entire length thereof. The inner core membercomprises a pair of elongated, intersecting, perpendicular partitionportions that are dimensioned to contact an inner surface of the bodymember. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart rib portions projecttransversely from the longitudinal center of the body member toward aninner surface of the body member. The distal end portion of the innercore member is frusto-conical in shape and has an elongated cavityformed therein. A proximal end portion of the fibrous tip member isreceived within the cavity. A plurality of openings are formed in theinner core member so as to permit the passage of liquid glue from thebody member therethrough into the cavity for contacting the fibrous tipmember.

The means for sealing the distal end of the body member comprises a sealring portion formed adjacent a distal end portion of the inner coremember that is dimensioned to sealingly engage an inner surface of thebody member. A ferrule member having a female portion of a snap fitassembly is received by a male portion of a snap fit assembly formed onan external surface of a distal end portion of the body member forurging the ring portion into sealing contact with the inner surface ofthe body member.

These and other aspects and attributes of the present invention will bediscussed with reference to the following drawings and accompanyingspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glue applicator constructed inaccordance with the invention with the cap member removed;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the glue applicator as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the glue applicator as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the glue applicator as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the proximal end of the glue applicator asshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the distal end of the glue applicator as shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the glue applicator shown in FIG. 1 withthe cap member applied to the distal end thereof;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the cap member;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the glue applicator as shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10--10 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the inner core member taken alongline 11--11 in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the inner core member taken alongline 12--12 in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-12, there is shown a glue applicator 10 constructedin accordance with the invention. Applicator 10 includes a body member12, an inner core member 14, a fibrous tip member 16, a sealing ferrulemember 18 and a protective cap member 20.

Body member 12 is an elongated, generally cylindrical member having aclosed proximal end portion and a distal end portion 24. The distal endportion has a male portion 26 of a snap fit assembly formed integrallytherewith.

A squeezable portion 28, of generally elliptical transversecross-section, is located adjacent distal end portion 24. Squeezableportion 28 includes a first section 30 that is generally concave inlongitudinal cross-section, as best seen in FIG. 3. Section 30 has aplurality of spaced apart projections 32 extending outwardly therefrom.Squeezable portion 28 also includes a section 34 that is generallyconvex in longitudinal cross-section, as best seen in FIG. 3. Section 34has a plurality of spaced apart cavities 36 formed therein. The firstsection 30 is diametrically opposed to the second section 34.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart projections 38 extendoutwardly from the outer surface of body member 12 adjacent to theproximal end portion 22. As best seen in FIG. 10, an internal alignmentflange 40, is located at the proximal end portion 22.

Referring to FIGS. 9-12, inner core member 14 has a proximal end portion42 and a distal end portion 44. Distal end portion is frusto-conical inshape and defines a cavity 46 formed therein. Core member 14 includes apair of elongated, intersecting partition portions 47 that aresubstantially perpendicular to each other. Partition portions 47 extendfrom the distal end portion 44 to the proximal end portion 42. Aplurality of longitudinally spaced apart rib portions 48 projecttransversely from the longitudinal center line of the core member. Thepartition portions 47 extend a short distance beyond the outer edges ofthe rib portions 48. The rib portions are substantially rectangular incross-section and the exposed corners thereof are beveled at 50. Thespacing between immediately adjacent rib portions adjacent the proximalend of the core member is preferably reduced in the area in facingrelationship with the squeezable portion 28.

A section 52 of one of the partition portions 47 is cut-out at aproximal portion thereof so as to cooperate with the alignment flange 40to orient the inner core member when it is inserted in the body member.A section 54 of one of the partition portions 47 is formed with aconcave cross-section to cooperate with the first section 30 ofsqueezable portion 28.

A seal ring portion 56 is formed adjacent the distal end portion of theinner core member for sealing contact with an inner surface of the bodymember. As best seen in FIG. 10, cavity 46 extends distally beyond sealring portion 56. A plurality of openings 58 are formed through thepartition portions 46 of the core member 14 to permit radial fluidcommunication between the body portion 12 and the cavity 46therethrough. The openings 48 are located proximally of the seal ringportion 56.

The body member 12 is preferably made from a relatively soft or flexibleplastic material, such as low density polyethylene, having a nominalwall thickness of about 0.06 inches. The inner core member 14 ispreferably formed from a substantially rigid plastic material, such ashigh density polyethylene or polypropylene.

Inner core member 14 is positioned within body member 12 such that thealignment flange 40 is received by cut-out section 52. In so doing,section 54 of the inner core member is in transverse alignment withfirst section 30. The distal end portion 44 of the inner core memberextends distally beyond the distal end of the body member 12 with theseal ring portion 56 in transverse alignment with the male portion 26.Fibrous tip member 16 is received within cavity 46 with the distal endthereof extending beyond the distal end of inner core member 14.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, ferrule member 18 has a proximal endportion 60 and a distal end portion 62. Proximal end portion 60 isprovided with a female portion 64 of a snap fit assembly that receivesthe male portion 26 of body member 12. As the ferrule member 18 istightened against the distal end of the body portion, the seal ringportion 56 is urged into sealing engagement with the inner surface ofthe body portion. The distal end portion 44 of the inner core member 14extends through an opening 66 formed through the distal end portion 62.

Referring to FIG. 10, cap member 20 includes a cylindrical chamber 80formed therein that receives and sealingly engages the outer surface ofthe distal end portion 44 of the inner core member 14. The cap member 20is dimensioned to be frictionally received by the outer surface of theproximal end portion 22 of the body member 12. Cap member 20 may beprovided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections 70.Projections 38 and 70 prevent the application from rolling off asubstantially horizontal surface.

The body member 12 contains a suitable liquid glue or solvent bondermaterial of the type typically used for the assembly of polystyreneplastic members.

In operation, the liquid glue or bonder material with body member 12flows through opening 58 to maintain a constant supply thereof to thefibrous tip 16. During use, when it is necessary to instantly andselectively increase the rate of glue flow at the tip, the first section30 is depressed the index finger causing an instantaneous surge of fluidflow into the cavity 46 and through the tip 16. The rigid inner coremember 14 provides structural support for the soft body member 12 whilepermitting the flow of fluid from the body member to the fibrous tip 16.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein,it is not intended to limit the invention to such a disclosure andchanges and modifications may be incorporated and embodied within thescope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A glue applicator for continuously, storing andapplying liquid glue, comprising:(a) an elongated generally cylindricalbody member having a closed proximal end portion and an open distal endportion, said body member having a squeezable portion located adjacentthe distal end portion thereof that may be deflected inwardly by a forceapplied by a finger; (b) a substantially rigid elongated inner coremember positioned within said body member and extending alongsubstantially the entire length thereof, said inner core member havingportions thereof that are in contact with an inner surface of said bodymember along substantially the entire length thereof, said inner coremember having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, saiddistal end portion of said inner core member having an elongated cavityformed therein that extends distally beyond the distal end portion ofsaid body member; (c) a fibrous tip member having a proximal end portionthat is received within said cavity and a distal end portion thatextends distally beyond the distal end portion of said inner coremember; (d) liquid glue contained with said body member, said inner coremember having a plurality of openings formed therein for permitting thepassage of said liquid glue from said body member therethrough into saidcavity so as to contact said fibrous tip member; and (e) means forsealing the distal end of said body member to preclude liquid glue fromescaping from said body member other than through said cavity.
 2. Theglue applicator as described in claim 1 wherein said squeezable portionis generally elliptical in transverse cross-section.
 3. The glueapplicator as described in claim 2 wherein a first section of saidsqueezable portion is concave in longitudinal cross-section.
 4. The glueapplicator as described in claim 3 wherein a second section of saidsqueezable portion is convex in longitudinal cross-section.
 5. The glueapplicator as described in claim 4 wherein said first section isdiametrically opposed to said second section.
 6. The glue applicator asdefined in claim 3 wherein said first section has a plurality of spacedapart projections extending outwardly therefrom.
 7. The glue applicatoras defined in claim 4 wherein said second section has a plurality ofspaced apart cavities formed therein.
 8. The glue applicator as definedin claim 1 wherein said body member has a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced apart projections extending outwardly therefrom.
 9. The glueapplicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said body member has alongitudinal center line and said inner core member includes a pluralityof longitudinally spaced apart rib portions that project transverselyfrom the longitudinal center line of said body member toward an innersurface of said body member.
 10. The glue applicator as defined in claim9 wherein said inner core member includes a pair of intersectingpartition portions that are substantially perpendicular to each otherand said rib portions extend between adjacent intersecting sectionsthereof.
 11. The glue applicator as defined in claim 10 wherein saidpartition portions extend a short distance beyond the outer edges ofsaid rib portions.
 12. The glue applicator as defined in claim 10wherein said rib portions are substantially rectangular in cross-sectionand the exposed corners thereof are beveled.
 13. The glue applicator asdefined in claim 1 wherein said distal end portion of said inner coremember is frusto-conical in shape and said cavity is formed therein. 14.The glue applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein a seal ring portion isformed adjacent said distal end portion of said inner core member forsealing contact with an inner surface of said body member.
 15. The glueapplicator as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for sealing thedistal end of said body member includes a ferrule member having a femaleportion of a snap fit assembly that receives a male portion of a snapfit assembly formed on an external surface of said open distal endportion of said body member.
 16. The glue applicator as defined in claim15 wherein said inner core member has a seal ring portion formedadjacent said distal end portion thereof such that as said femaleportion of said ferrule member is received by said male portion of saidbody member said ring portion is urged into sealing contact with aninner surface of said body member.
 17. The glue applicator as defined inclaim 15 wherein said distal end portion of said inner core memberextends distally through an opening formed in said ferrule member. 18.The glue applicator as defined in claim 14 wherein said openings formedin said inner core member are located proximally of said seal ringportion.